Apparatus for forging and forming steel disk wheels and the like



May 10, 1 938. c. s. SWANSON 2,116,805

APPARATUS FOR FORGING AND FORMING STEEL DISK WHEELS AND THE LIKE Filed May 9, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet l 1?? 1/6 7 z to; 1 (/areilze 55 2 12271501;

May 10, 1938. c. s. SWANSON APPARATUS FOR FORGING AND FORMING STEEL DISK WHEELS AND THE LIKE Filed May 9, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 10, 1938. c. s'. SWANSON APPARATUS FOR FORGING AND FORMING STEEL DISK WHEELS AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed- May 9, 1936 61 V in 1:25.11, T

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Zrzfrz 071* 62221 67209 .5? 5:06:725073 May 10, 1938. c. s. SWANSON APPARATUS FOR FORGING AND FORMING STEEL DISK WHEELS AND THE LIKE Filed May 9, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 5 x 2 1 Na n a mu t m M m 5 Patented May 10, 1 938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,116305 APPARATUS FOR FORGING AND FORMING STEEL DISK WHEELS ANDTHE LIKE ware Application May 9,

4 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for forging and forming steel disks for vehicle wheels and the like, and to the method of producing forgings of the character described.

One of the objects of the invention is to produce forging apparatus comprising a lower die and an upper reciprocating die, one of which is rotatable about a vertical axis, for speedily and efllciently producing a relatively large, thin forging, such as a disk, from a relatively narrow, thick billet of hard forging steel. Said means comprises a lower die having concentric surfaces adapted to support and shape the work, and a reciprocating upper die having a face as large as or slightly larger than the forging to be produced, provided with three or more segmental, spaced apart striking surfaces occupying approximately one-half of the face of the die. Said striking surfaces are preferably four or five in number, and merge with intermediate nonstriking areas by gently inclined portions. The form, location and size of the Striking surfaces and their relationship to the non-striking areas enable me to obtain great reduction in thickness of the metal being worked, without the use of unduly powerful or large hammer-operating equipment.

Another object is to provide means in the apparatusfor maintaining the. striking surfaces of the upper die in their intended planes, to insure uniform striking and working of the metal by the spaced apart striking surfaces as they contact the work on the lower die. By the means to be described hammer marks on the forging are avoided and very smooth forgings as well as close duplication of disks as to thickness from center to perimeter are assured.

Another object of the invention is to produce forging apparatus comprising dies provided with means for centering the work and means for centering the dies relatively to each other.

Another object is to produce a lower die which is shaped to cooperate with an upper die having striking surfaces in one horizontal plane, whereby may be produced an initially flat top disk having its bottom shaped to compensate for bending and stretching of the disk in a. subsequent forming operation.

Another object is to produce forming apparatus provided with means for preventing buckling or wrinkling of the disks in the forming operation, and also preferably provided with means for trimming the disk.

An important advantage of the method of forging herein described is the fact that the forg- 1936, Serial No. was

(01. 'zs-so) ings produced are of superior strength and durability and are characterized by the long grain flow lines inherent in the thick billet used in their production. These grain flow lines, vertical in the billet, extend radially in the forgingand impart to the disk a radial or spoke-like reinforcement.

The apparatus and method herein described enable me to use billets of hard forging steel which are initially substantially deeper than their width or diameter, and to work the metal into a relatively thin forging whereby great reduction in thickness is obtained and long radially extending grain flow lines are preserved in the forging, and this result is produced without increasing the size and power of hammer supporting and operating equipment over that heretofore used for substantially less upsetting of the metal.

Not only are the forgings thus produced highly superior in strength, durability and appearance, but a substantial saving is effected due to the decreased loss of metal resulting from sawing through a relatively narrow bar of rolled steel to form a deep, narrow billet as distinguished from a shorter, wider billet.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a billet such as is preferably used for making a forged disk embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the dies constituting the apparatus for forging a wheel disk, which is shown between the dies.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the disk shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the face of the upper die of the apparatus.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the face of the lower die.

Fig. 6 is a sectional viewtaken on the curved line 5-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view of a pair of dies for forming and trimming the forged disk of Fig. 3.

Fig. 9 shows the apparatus of Fig. 8 in another position.

Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view taken in the plane of the line Ill-ill of Fig. 9, the die face being shown in elevation.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view of a detail of the construction as shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the formed disk.

The preferred apparatus embodying this inwith a male member 22 which fits into a complemental recess in the anvil II. Near the bottom of the lower die a sheave groove 24 is machined in the circumferential wall to accommodate a flexible steel driving cable 25 for rotating the die. The face of the die will be formed to produce any desired configuration of one surface of the disk. In the present embodiment said face has a central recess into which is fitted a cup shaped member 28 which serves to prevent cracking of the die 2|. The usefulness of the die is lengthened by replacement of the member 2' when it becomes fractured or worn. The member 26 is notched or roughened to prevent movement of the billet or forging relatively to the die. Surrounding the center, the face of the lower die is provided with an annular flat portion 21. Outwardly of the portion 21 is a radially narrow annular depressed portion II, surrounded by a redially inclined, annular, web-forming region II, a second narrow depressed portion II and an inclined portion ii. A flat narrow ring or surface 32 in a horizontal plane, surrounds the inclined part II of the die. Offset from the operating face of the die is a shoulder II. The surfaces 26 to 32, inclusive, are concentric and complemental to one surface of the disk to be forged.

The upper die II is mounted in any suitable manner in a: reciprocable support, not shown, with its face in juxtaposition to the face of the lower die. The face of the upper die is best shown in Fig. 4. It has a central recess 34 surrounded by a central striking surface I! disposed in a horizontal plane. Continuous with and in the same plane as the central striking surface 35, are

five radially extending strildng surfaces 38. In-

ter'mediate said striking surfaces 36 are flvenonstriking surfaces 31. The non-striking surfaces lie in a plane slightly above the plane of the striking surfaces It when the die is in operative position. Said surfaces 31 each merge with the striking surfaces 36 through gently inclined surfaces 38 at each side and merge at one end with the central striking surface through agently inclined surface 39. The striking surfaces 38 and non-striking surfaces 31 gradually increase in circumferential width from the center toward the perimeter of the die. At the peripheral annular portion directly above and registering with the ring 32 of the lower die, the upper die is provided with a flat horizontally disposed surface lil in the same plane as the striking surfaces 38. Said peripheral flat surface it merges with the non-striking surfaces 31 by gently inclined portions ii. The non-striking surfaces 31 are thus surrounded by gently inclined surfaces which join each of them with the central strik ing surface 35, with adiacent striking surfaces 36, and with the peripheral flat surface 40.

The surfaces 35, 38 and I are preferably in one horizontal plane, and the surfaces are in a plane only about one-quarter inch above the plane of the surfaces 35, 38 and II. Since the inclined surfaces 18, 39 and II which Join the surfaces 31 to those in another plane are two or more inches in the direction of their respective inclinations, the result is that said surfaces 38, 30 and II are very gently inclined. This construction and contour of the face of the striking die 2| produce great and rapid upsetting of the metal, together with a smooth surface on the forging, and freedom from hammer marks. The registering ring surfaces 32 and I, respectively, on the dies 20 and II, insure uniform striking and working of the metal by maintaining the dies in their intended planes, and cooperate with the other novel features of the apparatus to produce smooth forgings, free from hammer marks, and close duplication of the successively forged pieces.

In Fig. 1 is shown a billet 42 cut from a rolled bar. in this instance cylindrical in cross section, the grain flow lines of the metal being vertical in the billet. Preferably the billet 42 is 6.to 8 inches high and 4% inches in diameter, for making a forged disk 23% inches in diameter. In Fig. 3 is shown the forged disk in which the upper surface II is flat and smooth and is provided with a central boss 44. The lower surface is complements] to the face of the lower die, and has a central boss II, a surrounding flat annular portion a, thickened annular portion 41, radially inclined region ll, slightly thickened annular member I, radially inclined portion ll an peripheral flat, narrow fln surface I. a

The provision of means for forming the axially aligned bosses 44 and l! on opposite sides of the diskis a feature of the invention which enables the operator to test the correctness of the relative positions of the dies II and ii from time totime. If the bosses are not in perfect axial alignment the forging apparatus requires adiustment. Faulty alignment may thus be noted promptly and the production of imperfect forgings be prevented. The die recesses which form the bosses and I! have another function, namely, the centering of the billet relatively to the dies, and the form of the member 26 in the lower die prevents rotation of the billet relatively to the die. v

Another feature of the invention is the provision of means on the non-reciprocating die for shaping the disk in the forging operation in such form that the metal will be distributed to compensate for stretching and bending of the metal in the subsequent forming operation.

Referring to Figs. 8 to 12, inclusive, the forged disk shown in Fig. 3 is formed by means of dies 52 and 53. The die 52 is mounted in a suitable reciprocating support (not sho wn), and its face is complemental to the intended surface of one side of the disk. In this embodiment, said die face has a central recess 5|; surrounding the recess 5| is a flat annular surface 56, a radially curved concentric ring 51, two radially downwardly inclined concentric surfaces 58 and 59 and a peripheral horizontally disposed surface II. On the outer edge of the surface 60 is a peripheral cutting edge 6i made of stellite, chromium or other suitable material welded on the carbon steel casting constituting the die 52.

The lower forming die 53 is rigidly mounted on an anvil 62 having a flat shoulder I! on which is mounted by bolt 63' a circular housing 64 internally recessed at 85, 85, to accommodate a ring 66 between the housing GI and die. 53. The ring 6 is supported on a plurality of coiled springs 61, located beneath the flanges 58 of the ring adapted to move vertically in the recesses 55 of the housing 64. The ring 66 has a flat upper surface '69.

The face of the die 53 is provided with a central recess l0, surrounded by a flat annular surface ll, radially curved concentric ring 12, and radially downwardly inclined portions i3 and ll.

The forged disk is placed on the lower forming die 53 with its flat surface ll adjacent the face of the die, and the central boss 44 in the recess II. In this position the disksurfaces l8, l1, 4B, 48 and 50 face the upper die I! as shown in Fig. 8, and the peripheral portion of the disk is engaged between the flat peripheral surfaces 60 and 88, respectively, of the die 52 and ring 66. As the die 52 is moved downwardly the engaging surfaces ill and 89 continue to clutch the disk and prevent wrinkling of the metal as the diameter and circumference of the disk are reduced in the forming operation. I

As the cutter edge I meets a cutter edge I5 fixed on the inner edge of the housing N, the disk is peripherally trimmed by cutting on the fin 5i, and as the die 52 continues its downward movement, the ring 8' is depressed, the disk gradually slips from between the surfaces BI and ll and the parts assume the position shown in Hg. 9.

Supports 16 are. provided on the housing III for the purpose of supporting guide bars or rods 11. The upper ends of the rods 11 are beveled and each rod enters the bore of a reinforced ear 11' rigidly connected to the upper die I2, when the upper die has moved downwardly to a predetermined extent. This construction keeps the forming dies in vertical alignment.

In the forming operation, the thickened portions 41 and 49 of the disk are adjacent the curved part 51 and the curve between the inclined surfaces BI and it of the upper die, so that when the disk is'bent into the shape shown in section in Fig. 9 and in plan in Fig. 12, the said portions 41 and 49 will compensate for the stretching and bending at those parts and a wheel disk of uniform strength will be produced. Another advantage of the apparatus is the provision of means for trimming the peripheral edge before the forming of the disk is accomplished, which results in an edge surface ll (Fig. 9) at right angles to the disk surfaces adjacent the edge, instead ofan edge forming an acute angle, as heretofore.

In Fig. 12 the formed and trimmed disk is shown after its center has been punched out to provide an aperture 19, and the web portion has been punched to provide apertures II. The several surfaces have been indicated by the same numerals used to designate the parts of the disk before it was subjected to the forming operation.

The forging of the disk with an upper flat surface and providing for compensation for the subsequent bending and stretching by special shaping of the bottom surface in the forging, followed by reversal of the disk and a forming operation, results in producing a disheddisk for vehicle wheels, wherein the metal is disposed most efflciently for uniform strength of the disk in use. weakening of the disk such as results from bending metal of uniform thickness, with undue stretching at one side and buckling at the other, is avoided The action of the spring supported ring ll keeps the disk under tension by holding it between the surfaces ill and I while the upper die forces the ring downwardly against the spring '1, which overcomes the tendency of the disk to buckle as its shape is being altered and its diameter and cirform shown and described, except as set forth in the appended claims,

I claim:-

1. Apparatus for forging disks for vehicle wheels and the like, comprising a pair of cooperating dies, one of which is rotatable, the lower die having a face provided with a flat, annular centerforming surface, a radially inclined concentric web forming surface for forming a thickened annular portion surrounding the annular center, an annular depression between said center and inclined surface, a second annular depression surrounding the inclined surface, and a radially inclined surface outwardly of said second annular depression, and the upper die being reciprocable and having a face approximately as large as the disk to be forged, said face being provided with striking surfaces in one horizontal plane and relatively shallow non-striking areas between said striking surfaces, said surfaces and areas being connected by relatively wide merging surfaces which are gradually inclined in a circumferential direction.

2. Apparatus for forging disks for vehicle wheels and the like, comprising a pair of cooperating dies, one of which is rotatable, the lower die having a face provided with a flat, annular centerforming surface, a radially inclined concentric web forming surface, an annular depression between said center and inclined surface, a second annular depression surrounding the inclined surface, and a radially inclined surface outwardly of said second annular depression, and the upper die being reciprocable and having a face approximately as large as the disk to be forged, said face being provided with striking surface portions in one horizontal plane and non-striking areas between said striking surfaces, said surface portion and areas being connected by relatively wide surfaces gradually inclined to merge therewith, each of said dies having on its face a flat peripheral surface in a horizontal plane, registering with and spaced a short distance from the other when the dies are in their most proximate operative position.

3. Apparatus for forming a forged disk having one flat surface and provided on its opposite surface with a flat annular center, a radially inclined concentric web portion, and a thickened annular portion between said center and said inclined web, said forming apparatus comprising a lower die provided with an annular flat central surface in a single horizontal plane for supporting the forged disk with its flat surface on the lower side, the

peripheral margin of the flat portion of said lower die registering with the annular thickened portion on the opposite side of the disc, a radially,

downwardly inclined concentric surface on said lower die adjacent said flat center, and an upper die adapted to bear on said disk and to bend the I one flat surface and provided on its opposite surface with a flat annular center, a radially inclined concentric web portion. a thickened annular portion between said center and said inclined web, a second thickened annular portion outwardly of the web, and athin peripheral portion outwardly of said second thickened portion, said forming apparatus comprising a lower die provided with an annular flat central surface in a single horizontal plane for supporting the forged disk with its flat surface on the lower side, the peripheral margin of the flat portion of said lower die registering from the-first. and an upper die adapted to bear on said disk and to bend thedisk at said thickened annular portions to move the web and peripheral portion of the disk toward the lower die.

cmnnfion e. swmson.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent m 2,116,305, May 10, 19

CLARENCE S. SWANSON.

' It is hereby certified that error appears vin the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, second column lines 9and10, claim; strike out the words "for forming a thickened annular portion surrounding the annular center" and insert the same after "surface" and. before the coma in line 12, same claim; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform tothe record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 25rd day of May, an. 19 9.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner 0! Patents.

from the-first. and an upper die adapted to bear on said disk and to bend thedisk at said thickened annular portions to move the web and peripheral portion of the disk toward the lower die.

cmnnfion e. swmson.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent m 2,116,305, May 10, 19

CLARENCE S. SWANSON.

' It is hereby certified that error appears vin the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, second column lines 9and10, claim; strike out the words "for forming a thickened annular portion surrounding the annular center" and insert the same after "surface" and. before the coma in line 12, same claim; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform tothe record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 25rd day of May, an. 19 9.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner 0! Patents. 

